MINNEAPOLIS — Keria Strong-Bailey Westerman and Sophia Flategraff-Maria Neva recorded doubles wins for the Pequot Lakes Patriots in a 5-2 loss to the No. 4-seeded Lake City Tigers in the Class 1A Consolation Semifinals Wednesday, Oct. 28.
Pequot Lakes head coach Mindi Brill called it a special moment when the team huddled for the last match of the season.
“We talked about how this would be the last time that we would be huddling together as a team,” Brill said. “It was a moment that I’ll never forget. The bond that not just the players had developed, but even us coaches with the girls is something that I think will last forever.”
Lake City won all four singles matches in straight sets. Briella Eggert at No. 4 singles lost 7-6(1), 6-2 to Julia Huettl. Two of the doubles matches went into third-set tiebreakers.
“We didn’t know much about Lake City,” Brill said. “We knew that some of their top singles players were going to be tough. However, we felt like we could compete with their doubles. At singles, our girls did what they could, but they were dominant.”
Pequot Lakes No. 1 doubles team Bailey Westerman and Keira Strong play in the Class 1A State Tournament against Litchfield on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, in Minneapolis.
Bill Johnson / Picture Day Pro!
Lake City’s Therese Bauer won over Emme Sullivan 6-1, 6-4 at No. 1 singles. Gemma Bauer of Lake City won over Claire Oseland 6-2, 6-3. Rylee Thieren notched a victory over Pequot’s Kate Ouradnik 6-0, 6-1.
Strong-Westerman won over Addie Thieren-Marlena Brunkow 6-2, 7-6(5) while Flategraff-Neva won over Lucy Beckman-Addison Ahrens 6-4, 4-6, 10-8. At No. 3 doubles, Lauren Bluhm-Frankie Brinkman fell to Tenley Proncelet-Maggie Thieren 3-6, 7-5, 11-9.
“At the beginning of the season, I would’ve said the strength of our team is singles,” Brill said. “I feel like as the season emerged our doubles stepped up in a big way. We couldn’t have been more proud of our whole team.”
Pequot Lakes’ Claire Oseland hits the ball in the Class 1A State Tournament against Litchfield on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, in Minneapolis.
Bill Johnson / Picture Day Pro!
Singles players Emme Sullivan and Claire Oseland will compete in the Class 1A State Singles Individual Tournament at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 29.
“I feel like having the team experience the past two days will make them acclimate well,” Brill said. “I think the girls are excited to play and we’re just ready to go.”
The Patriots finished the season with a 14-7 record. On the first day of the state tournament Tuesday, Oct. 27, the Patriots lost to No. 2-seeded Litchfield 6-1 in the quarterfinals. Pequot beat Thief River Falls 4-3 in the consolation semifinals after losing to Thief River Falls 6-1 earlier in the season.
Lake City 5, Pequot Lakes 2
No. 1: Therese Bauer (LC) def. Emme Sullivan 6-1, 6-4
No. 2: Gemma Bauer (LC) def. Claire Oseland 6-2, 6-3
No. 3: Rylee Thieren (LC) def. Kate Ouradnik 6-0, 6-1
No. 4: Julia Huettl (LC) def. Briella Eggert 7-6(1), 6-2
No. 1: Keria Strong-Bailey Westerman (PL) def. Addie Thieren-Marlena Brunkow 6-2, 7-6(5)
No. 2: Sophia Flategraff-Maria Neva (PL) def. Lucy Beckman-Addison Ahrens 6-4, 4-6, 10-8
No. 3: Tenley Proncelet-Maggie Thieren (LC) def. Lauren Bluhm-Frankie Brinkman 3-6, 7-5, 11-9